Vietnam War mortar shell kills children

A MORTAR shell from the Vietnam War has exploded in a southern Vietnam village, killing four children and seriously injuring five other people.

Hieu Nghia village official Le Van Giang says three children aged 4 to 11 died at the scene on Sunday afternoon. A six-year-old boy died in hospital. The blast seriously injured two other children and three men.

A villager found the shell five years ago while dredging a canal. The children were playing with it when it exploded.

The village in Vinh Long province was a communist stronghold during the war.

Vietnamese government figures show old ordnance has killed more than 42,000 people since the war ended in 1975.